West Bengal - The Purbottar

04 Apr

ECI Enforces Stringent Pre-Poll Measures: TMC Leaders Under Scrutiny, Security Recalled, and Official Suspended

anuprova EditorWest Bengal

In a major escalation of its oversight ahead of the West Bengal Assembly elections, the Election Commission of India (ECI) has initiated a series of high-impact measures to ensure a level playing field. On April 3, 2026, the Commission took "serious note" of a significant lapse in the state’s security deployment, revealing that over 2,100 police personnel had been assigned to provide personal cover for nearly 1,000 individuals, a vast majority of whom are leaders or supporters of the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC). Decrying the situation as an inequitable distribution of state resources, the ECI has directed the West Bengal…

02 Apr

Mamata Banerjee Alleges BJP Conspiracy to Impose President’s Rule Amid Malda Hostage Crisis

anuprova EditorNorth Bengal, West Bengal

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has leveled explosive allegations against the Bharatiya Janata Party, claiming that a recent hostage crisis in Malda is part of a larger "game plan" to derail the upcoming Assembly elections and force the imposition of President’s Rule in the state. The controversy stems from a dramatic standoff on Wednesday in Malda’s Kaliachak-II block, where seven judicial officers—including three women and a five-year-old child—were held hostage for over nine hours by a mob of villagers. The protesters were reportedly agitated over the mass deletion of names from electoral rolls during a Special Intensive Revision (SIR)…

30 Mar

West Bengal Assembly Polls 2026: Third Supplementary Voter List Released Under Intensive Revision

nanika EditorWest Bengal

In a significant update ahead of the 2026 Assembly elections, the Election Commission of India (ECI) released the third supplementary voter list for West Bengal late Saturday night. This latest publication is part of the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process, which aims to ensure a clean and accurate electoral roll for the state. The release marks a continuing effort by the commission to finalize the list of eligible electors. This follows the publication of the partial final voter list on February 28, and two subsequent supplementary lists issued on March 23 and March 28. While the ECI has made…

25 Mar

Severe Weather Hits North Bengal and Sikkim, Disrupting High-Stakes Election Campaigns

anuprova EditorNorth Bengal

The political landscape in North Bengal and the Himalayan state of Sikkim has been met with an unexpected hurdle as a wave of stormy weather and unseasonal rainfall sweeps across the region. With the election season in full swing, various political parties were gearing up for a series of high-profile rallies, door-to-door campaigning, and public outreach programs. However, the sudden atmospheric turbulence—characterized by heavy downpours, occasional hailstorms, and strong gusty winds—has forced several top-tier leaders to either cancel or indefinitely postpone their scheduled events. The northern districts of West Bengal, including Darjeeling, Kalimpong, and Jalpaiguri, reported significant waterlogging in low-lying…

23 Mar

After Days of Rain, Darjeeling Wakes Up to a Stunning Himalayan Panorama

nanika EditorNorth Bengal

The hills of Darjeeling came alive on Sunday as the majestic Kanchenjunga finally emerged in full glory after days of being hidden behind dense clouds and relentless bad weather.Following a prolonged spell of rain, storms, and snowfall, tourists had been left disappointed as thick cloud cover obscured the iconic snow-capped peak. The gloomy conditions had dampened travel experiences, with many visitors unable to witness one of the region’s most sought-after natural attractions.However, the weather took a dramatic turn on the morning of March 22. As the sun rose, the skies gradually cleared, unveiling a breathtaking and uninterrupted view of Kanchenjunga.…

18 Mar

IMD Warns of Thunderstorms and Hail Across Bengal on March 20–21

nanika Editorweather, West Bengal

The India Meteorological Department has forecast widespread thunderstorms, lightning, and gusty winds across West Bengal on March 20 and 21, driven by favorable weather conditions and moisture inflow from the Bay of Bengal.According to the IMD, several districts are likely to experience unstable weather during this period, with hailstorms expected in parts of the state. Western districts such as Bankura, Purulia, and Paschim Bardhaman may witness hailstorms on March 20. In North Bengal, districts including Darjeeling and Jalpaiguri are likely to experience similar conditions on March 21.The weather office also predicted light to moderate rainfall across multiple districts from Wednesday…

17 Jan

Vande Bharat Sleeper Debuts: PM Modi Launches Faster Overnight Rail Link Between Eastern India and Northeast

Sonakshi SarkarWest Bengal

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday flagged off the country’s first Vande Bharat sleeper train, marking a major step in long-distance railway travel in India. The new service will connect Howrah with Guwahati (Kamakhya) and is expected to make travel between eastern India and the Northeast faster and more comfortable. The inaugural run of the sleeper train was flagged off from Malda, where the Prime Minister addressed officials and reviewed key railway initiatives. Along with the forward journey, Modi also virtually flagged off the return Guwahati–Howrah service, signalling the formal start of operations on the busy route. According to a…

08 Oct

West Bengal Delivers Coordinated Diplomacy After Cross-Border Tragedy

Mohini BarmanWest Bengal

In the flood-stricken hills of North Bengal, authorities recovered the bodies of five Nepalese nationals and at least one Bhutanese citizen. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee announced that the state’s Chief Secretary will coordinate with both the central government and the embassies of Nepal and Bhutan to ensure diplomatic assistance and repatriation. The victims were found in riverine and forested areas near Manebhanjan (for Nepalese) and Nagrakata (for Bhutanese connections). For Indian, Nepali, and Bhutanese media, this incident underscores shared vulnerabilities in cross-border flood zones and the importance of diplomatic cooperation and disaster preparedness across eastern Himalaya regions.

01 Jul

Shoot Chaos: Tollywood Technicians Refuse Work With Anirban Bhattacharya

Purbalee DuttaEntertainment, Kolkata, West Bengal

Anirban Bhattacharya, is a very well-known actor-director, but unfortunately enough and currently is involved in a developing disagreement with film technicians in Tollywood, which has resulted in recurrent delays to the filming of his music videos. The Federation of Cine Technicians and Workers of Eastern India has allegedly threatened "lifelong non-cooperation" against people, including Bhattacharya, who have sued the Federation in the Calcutta High Court. The growing tensions reached a peak on Monday, when Bhattacharya convened a news conference at Yogesh Mime Academy at midday. He highlighted the fact that shooting for his music video did get halted since he…

30 Jun

Kolkata Metro Trains Delayed Due To Severe Waterlogging From Rain

Purbalee DuttaIndia, Kolkata, weather, West Bengal

Metro services in Kolkata were affected on Monday due to heavy rain and waterlogging, creating significant discomfort for passengers. Services between Mahatma Gandhi Road and Park Street were interrupted, leaving numerous trains stranded and forcing passengers to find alternate transportation. The interruption was caused by a ruptured water pipe between Jatin Das Park and Netaji Bhavan stations, which occurred between 3:40 and 4:35 pm. Overcrowding was reported at many stations, and Maidan's escalators were closed owing to pressure. This comes just two days after a similar event on Saturday, when water overflowed the drainage canal between tracks, causing a brief…